Logo

Mountain Fire Ben

Major Wildfire Devastates Several Ventura County Communities

Wednesday November 06, 2024

(Top photo by Ben Brucker)

Mountain Fire VCFD PIO

(Photo courtesy VCFD PIO)

 

 For official information and important links go to https://www.vcemergency.com/

     Update--Started amid some of the strongest Santa Ana winds to hit Ventura County since the Thomas and Woolsey fires, the Mountain Fire exploded Wednesday morning into a giant wildfire.

     It grew quickly, taking out homes and other structures and forcing the evacuation of thousands of people, some of whom had to be rescued.

     It has scorched more than 10,000 acres in the unincorporated areas between Camarillo, Saticoy, Santa Paula, and Moorpark.

     Some injuries have been reported.

     The same winds that created this monster also made it difficult to fight since the turbulence limited critical air support to rotary aircraft without fixed wing air tankers.

     Several hundred firefighters from throughout the state have converged on the fire in an attempt to tame it.

     No word on containment.

     Firefighters will be out there all night and into tomorrow trying to get the upper hand on the blaze.

     The cause was under investigation.

     Here is official information from vcemergency.com

Ventura County Incidents

Mountain F

Updated 11/6/2024 at 2:42 pm

The Ventura County Fire Department is on the scene of a fast moving brush fire in near the 7900 block of Balcom Canyon Road and Bradley Road.  The fire is currently estimated at 10,431 acres.

Evacuation Orders

The following evacuation orders are in effect:

  • Zone 1 – North of Somis: areas north of East Los Angeles Avenue/Hwy 118, west of Balcom Canyon Road, and east of La Vista Avenue  
  • Zone 2 – Saticoy Country Club: east of Los Angeles Ave/Hwy 118, and south of the Santa Clara River and north of Beardsley Road
  • Zone 3 – Areas south of Hwy 118, west of N. Lewis Road, north of North Loop Drive and Mission Drive, and east of Fairway Drive 
  • Zone 4 – West Camarillo (Las Posas/Spanish Hills areas): north of Las Posas Road, south and east of Central Avenue and Beardsley Road, and west of Anacapa Drive
  • Zone 6 – The area extending south of Santa Clara River, east of Los Angeles Avenue, north of Saticoy County Club, and west of Briggs Road 
  • Zone 7 – The area north of Hwy 101 and south and east of Beardsley Avenue, and south of Central Avenue 

Evacuation Warning

  • Zone 8 – An area extending south of South Mountain Road, east of Briggs Road, and west of 12th Street and Bixby Road
  •  Ventura
    • Ventura Police Department issued an evacuation warning for the East end of the City of Ventura, from Petit Road east to the City Limits. Residents who may need additional time to evacuate should consider evacuating early

Road Closures

  • Northbound Lewis Road at Las Posas
  • Eastbound Highway 118 at Wells Road
  • Westbound Highway 118 at Tierra Rejada Road

Temporary Evacuation Point

Padre Serra Parish
5205 Upland Road
Camarillo

Large Animal Evacuation Center

An evacuation center has been established for large animals at the Ventura County Fairgrounds:

Ventura County Fairgrounds (Shoreline Gate)

10 E. Harbor Blvd.

Ventura, CA 93001

Small Animal Evacuation Center

An evacuation center for small animals has been established at Ventura County Animal Services (Camarillo Airport):

Ventura County Animal Services (Camarillo Airport)

600 Aviation Drive

Camarillo, 93010

School Closures

For information on school closures visit: www.vcoe.org

Hotline

An information hotline is available by calling 805-465-6650.